A SERIOUS EXAMINATION OF THE BIBLICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S CHURCH AND GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE - ISRAEL - PERTAINING TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
‘A time of trouble as never was, since the nations existed..’ (Daniel 12:1)
‘..And at ‘that time’, thy people shall be delivered...’ (Daniel’s people were Israel) ..‘every one that shall be found written in the BOOK’.
This verse about a time of trouble as never was - is talking about Israel. God’s ‘Book’ was first mentioned by Moses in Exodus 32:32 –Here are both concepts in one verse-
‘’If thou wilt forgive their [Israel’s] sin; And if not, blot ME, I pray thee, out of thy BOOK which thou has written’.
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The title - ‘The Great Tribulation’ does not appear in Scripture. There is no article ‘the’ denoting a proper name for any ‘thing’. Rather ‘great’ is an adjective - given as a stark description of earth’s final tribulation.
Matthew 24:21, says ‘There shall be great tribulation.” Meaning a tribulation more powerful, and greater than all past tribulations. (The history of man is full of tribulation). And what is this period called?
The Time of Jacobs Trouble.
Who is Jacob? Jacob is Israel.
MEANING and USAGE of ‘TRIBULATION’ in the NEW TESTAMENT
The word ‘great’ describing the Tribulation mentioned in Matthew 24:21, is the Greek word ‘Megali’, (μεγάλη) from which we get our words - megalithic, or megalith, referring to something of ‘massive’ proportions. The word ‘megali’ is used in Scripture 69 times, describing a ‘loud voice’, or a ‘great peace’, a ‘wide door’, or ‘super abundance’,. etc. The word ‘tribulation’ is the same - only the adjective differs.
The word ‘Tribulation’, found in Romans 5, in the Greek texts is - “Thlipsis’, or ‘mental pressure, distress’, affliction, or squeezing’. In the context of the Church, it is something Paul said he ‘rejoiced in’. Huh? Rejoice? Why? Because, as Paul pointed out, ‘tribulation’ works patience, and patience - experience, and experience [works] hope. It makes the hope of his return living and real.
How? Because in our own tribulation, the Scriptures prove daily the outcome of Christ – who suffered and then was glorified. As we are to ‘share in his sufferings’ that we may ‘share also in his glory’.
THERE IS OUR DIFFERENCE RIGHT THERE. The Lord survived his bitter ‘tribulations’. They did not kill him. He went obediently however to a crucifixion, which is how he died. On the other hand, the tribulation of the Apocalypse, is one that will make men wish they were dead.
‘And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.’ Revelation 9:6
Speaking of the final tribulation the Lord warned in Matthew 24:22 –
‘..except that those days [the great tribulation period] were cut short, nobody would be saved.‘
Why would no one be saved? I thought the Church was already saved! That’s right. It is. This verse does not PERTAIN to the Church. “Nobody would be saved’, is talking about Israel and or the gentiles who will be in the great tribulation with a hope remaining to be ‘saved’ IF they endure to the end [of their lives]. (Matthew 24:13)
It will be so horrible, except that it had a time limit – no one would survive - men would give up, or quit and take the mark; not ‘enduring to the end’.
Whereas Paul’s period of tribulation – that which the entire Church of God shares in, is something.. endurable, survivable.. commendable.
This ‘HOUR of DARKNESS’ – which is nothing more than satan’s time of tribulation for the Church of God - you will see CANNOT HOLD A CANDLE TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION TO COME - WHICH IS THE WRATH OF THE LAMB.
THEY ARE 2 DIFFERENT TRIBULATOINS – AFFECTING 2 DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE. And the examination of the ‘Hour of Darkness’, (Part IV of this series) will drive this point home.
Paul rejoiced in tribulation because it means the privilege of sharing ‘the Lord’s sufferings’. (Not his ‘death’, but his sufferings. The church identifies with his death, even as we identify with his fulfilment of the Law - but need not ‘share it’. We are rather → living sacrifices’.
Which points out another important distinction between the Church saints, and the saints and elders of Israel.
During the time of Jacob’s trouble (the greatest of tribulations), those from Israel, and the gentiles who don’t accept the mark of the beast – will be martyred.
The Church already made a choice in Jesus! We are exempted from this decision.
So what does all of this mean?
The difference between the ‘Tribulation of the Church of God’, and the ‘Great Tribulation’ of the Book of Revelation - is in ‘DEGREE” and ‘DURATION’.
The Church’s tribulation is NOW and is:
Inevitable and continuous.
It’s mental pressure, and anguish – but not perdition.
It is ‘endurable’. VIZ: The Lord will allow no temptation (tribulation) except that which you can ‘endure’, and will offer a ‘way out’ -> This is not tribulation unto death. (See Luke 10:19)
It is what our ‘brethren have also ‘accomplished’. I.e..survived and escaped from. (I Peter 5:9)
The Church of God’s tribulation is TWO THOUSAND YEARS IN LENGTH[1]! But it is survivable.
Israel’s tribulation is to be only 7 years, but will be of an intensity never before seen on earth.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE END IS EXPLAINED OR ‘TOLD’ FROM THE BEGINNING (see Isaiah 46:10)
In Hebrews 8 & 9 - using words like ‘example, shadow, figure, pattern, and ‘new’, the Apostle Paul spoke of 'shadows’ i.e.. of old, that reveal the ‘substance’.. i.e.. of new.
When we examine people, places, and things in the Old Testament, we learn to ‘see and understand’ people places and things in the end times. By way of example - many saints think Great Babylon of the Last Days, is the physical place called Iraq. A careful examination of the Scriptures that describe the Last Days Babylon, make it clear that Iraq has nothing at all to do with it.
To understand the Last Day’s Great Babylon - one must study the original Babylon, which began 6,000 years ago - MIRRORS the Last Days Babylon in many ways - those being in being a maker of war, a wellspring of sorceries, wielding great power, and operating great evil. (There is only one country that fits the Jeremiah 50 & 51 descriptions, and it is not Iraq, though that is a subject for another day.)
But the point is the Mirror - the FIRST of anything in the Bible - illustrates the LAST.
JOSEPH in the MIRROR – A PATTERN OF THE CHURCH
In our ‘tribulation’ we share the experience of “Joseph’, who was ‘rejected by his brethren’, sold into slavery, had his feet bound in chains’. We see Joseph suffered tribulation – being ‘tried (proven) of God’.. for a set period - Until the ‘time’ when - having successfully completed that test - he was ‘released’ - and ‘glorified’. Joseph’s is an example to the faithful saints to endure in affliction.
Paul cites Joseph as our example in Acts 7:9 – 11 Satan led his brethren to despise him. Yet God - was ‘with Joseph’- and permitted his trials; Just as the Lord God ‘permitted’ the ‘thorns in Paul’s flesh’ (the people who persecuted him). Not assaying to ‘eliminate them’, but providing grace to the apostle to endure. JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE CHURCH.
In the same way that God did not rescue the Christ child from Herod, (Christ was saved by his father Joseph’s obedience) God did not ‘rescue’ Joseph from his trials. He just watched over both of them. Jesus spent formative years in Egypt. Joseph spent formative years in Egypt. The Church of God saints spend formative years in Egypt (the world). We are not taken out of the world, any more than Joseph was. He died in Egypt. But God watched over him there, and told him by way of his fathers, that ‘he would come out of Egypt at the end of the days’. (400 years!)1
We all spend time in Egypt. For the Church of God – Egypt is put for our ‘testing’. Our tribulations represent the testing of Joseph in Egypt. When at last he came out of prison – he was glorified. When at last we will come out of this world (like Joseph, this may happen after our death), we will be glorified. In that Day. IF we are faithful in Egypt.
Tribulation for the Church has never been – and will never be – terminal. It is a test. This is only a test.
God proved Joseph in his tribulation, and, in due time, rewarded him. Later His only begotten son – also spent time a period of time in tribulation – later to be glorified, and winning for his obedience, a name above all names!.
Don’t miss YOUR chance to pass the tribulation tests. They will end with the Rapture of the Church.
These Scriptures are written for our learning, and our encouragement in all of our own trials. Remember Paul also said – the sufferings of THIS PRESENT TIME CANNOT BE COMPARED TO THE GLORY TO BE REVEALED IN US.
You notice, he did not say, ‘the sufferings of this present time cannot be compared to the sufferings of the great tribulation to come’. Got that?\
IN SUMMARY
· In Joseph we see the Scripture fulfilled– ‘the same is accomplished in your brethren’. [2]
· Paul rejoiced in tribulation - knowing of the ‘rewards to follow’ -as exampled by Joseph. Thus he wrote Hebrews 11:35 – ‘Cast not therefore away thy confidence, which has great recompense of reward’.
· Do we see immediate rewards? Though many rewards are future - as we have ‘treasure laid up in heaven’, and - God ‘waits to be good to us’ (Isaiah 30:18) - yet He is always GOOD to us when our testing is complete. Just as he was to Joseph! David also said, ‘I had fainted, lest I believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 HE DID and WE DO.
Friend - DON’T give up in the middle of a trial. All completed trials finish with rewards -> as Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9 -> ‘IF we faint not’.
For the Church then, tribulation is expected, and welcomed. Do you now see it? Do you see how deceitful the ‘prosperity gospel’ is? To ‘escape’ our tribulations rather than ‘accomplish them’, is the same as ‘saving ourselves’ of Matthew 16:25 ‘He who saves his life shall lose it’.
To ‘accomplish’ our trials is not to die, but to endure to their triumphant completion – as He – the Lord – directs you.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.’ II Corinthians 2:14
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In Christ we are led to TRIUMPH. The degree of our testing, suggests the size of our reward! Which explains why the trials do not DISSIPATE with faith and maturity – but grow in intensity! (ask me)
Finally - Paul said, tribulation works ‘experience.’ Experience is that which allows us to comfort others who are also in trials, and give them HOPE! (ask me.. :>} )
WATCH FOR -PART III - THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE
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[1] THE HOUR OF DARKNESS (in Part IV) WILL SHOW YOU THE LENGTH OF THE CHURCH’S TRIBULATION
[2] I have seen the story of a young Swedish lady born in Africa of missionary parents,.. whose mother died on the mission field, and whose father gave up on God, gave away his new baby - and turned from the faith; Until SHE grew up, located her father in Sweden, and brought him back to the Lord – as it were – shortly before he died. Why does it appear God’s promises, and the pattern of Joseph’s glorification, did not manifest for this tormented man. I wondered about it, until I read the whole story. The man did not behave as Joseph did in prison in Egypt. His confessions were habitually negative. His faith was of no effect, because it was not. His expressed anger at the Lord God - and brought upon himself the consequences of failing his tests. Having returned to the Lord on his death bed, yet he lost his rewards.
Which promise to the Patriarchs motivated Joseph’s greatest act of faith, as recorded in Hebrews 11:22. In this verse, the holy spirit saw fit to highlight ONE thing that Joseph did at the end of his long amazing life – On his death bed, ‘Joseph gave commandment concerning his bones.’ That is, Joseph took what God had said to his grandfather Abraham, 100 years before, and held it fast to his dying day! He never needed to be told twice. He never needed to ‘see’ the thing come to pass. God said it, that settled it for him. This is how we are ALL to ‘live in Egypt.’